Development Over The Lifespan

Front 1

Developmental Psychology

Back 1

Studies how organisms grow and change over time as a result of biological and environmental influences

Front 2

Nature-Nurture Issue

Back 2

Discussion over relative importance of nature (heredity) and nurture (environment) in their influence on behavior and mental processes

Front 3

Innate Ability

Back 3

Capability of an infant that is inborn or biologically based

Front 4

Prenatal period

Back 4

The developmental period before birth

Front 5

Embryo

Back 5

In humans, the name for the developing organism during the first 8 weeks after conception

Front 6

Fetus

Back 6

The term for the developing organism between the embryonic stage and birth

Front 7

Placenta

Back 7

Organ interface between the embryo or fetus and the mother. Allows the exchange of nutrients and waste products

Front 8

Teratogen

Back 8

Substance from the environment, including niruses, drugs, and other chemicals, that can damage the developing organism during the prenatal period

Front 9

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Back 9

A set of physical and mental problems seen in children whose mothers drink exessive amounts of alcohol during pregnancy

Front 10

Neonatal Period

Back 10

The neonatal (newborn) period extends through the first month after birth

Front 11

Mimicry

Back 11

The imitation of other people's behaviors

Front 12

Synchronicity

Back 12

The close coordination between gazing, vocalizing, touching, and smiling of infants and caregivers

Front 13

Innate Reflex

Back 13

Reflexive response present at birth

Front 14

Infancy

Back 14

Spans the time between the end of the neonatal period and the establishment of language (about 18 months to 2 years

Front 15

Sensitive Period

Back 15

Organism is especially responsive to stimuli of a particular sort. Sensitivity to chemicals or hormones, also periods for learning language or development of vision

Front 16

Synaptic Pruning

Back 16

Process of trimming unused brain connections, making neurons available for future developmental

Front 17

Maturation

Back 17

Process by which the genetic program manifests itself over time

Front 18

Genetic Leash

Back 18

Edward Wilson's term for the constraints placed on development by heredity

Front 19

Contact Comfort

Back 19

Stimulation and reassurance derived from the physical touch of a caregiverf

Front 20

Attachment

Back 20

The enduring socioemotional relationship between a child and a parent or other regular caregiver

Front 21

Imprinting

Back 21

Primitive form of learning in which some young animals follow and form an attachment to the first moving object they see and hear

Front 22

Secure attachment

Back 22

Attachment style of children who are relaxed and comfortable with their caregivers and tolerant of strangers and new experiences

Front 23

Separation Anxiety

Back 23

A common pattern of distress seen in young children when separated from their caregivers

Front 24

Anxious-ambivalent Attachment

Back 24

A child wants contact with the caregiver and shows excessive distress when separated from the caregiver, and proves difficult to console even when reunited

Front 25

Avoidant Attachment

Back 25

A child shows no interest in contact with the caregiver and displays neither distress when separated nor happiness when reunited

Front 26

Trust

Back 26

Major developmental goal during the first 18 months of life. Child must choose between trusting or not trusting others

Front 27

Language Acquisition Device

Back 27

Biologically organized mental structure in the brain that facilitates the learning of language because it is innately programmed with some of the fundamental rules of grammar

Front 28

Babbling

Back 28

Production of repetitive syllables, characteristic of the early stages of language acquisition

Front 29

Grammar

Back 29

Rules of a language, specifying how to use the elements ot language and word order to produce understandable sentences

Front 30

Telegraphic Speech

Back 30

Short, simple sequences of nouns and verbs without plurals, tenses, or function words like the and of, like the language once used in telegraphs

Front 31

Morpheme

Back 31

Meaningful unit of language that makes up words. Some whole words are morphemes, others include grammatical components that alter a word's meaning

Front 32

Cognitive Development

Back 32

Global term for the development of thought processes from childhood through adulthood

Front 33

Stage Theory

Back 33

Explanation of development that emphasizes distinctive or rather abrupt changes. Emphasizes revolutionary changes in thought processes.

Front 34

Schema

Back 34

Piaget's theory--a mental structure or program that guides a developing child's thought

Front 35

Assimilation

Back 35

A mental process that incorporates new information into existin schemas

Front 36

Accomodation

Back 36

A mental process that modifies schemas in order to include new information

Front 37

Sensorimotor stage

Back 37

The first stage in Piaget's theory, during which the child relies heavily on innate motor responses to stimuli

Front 38

Sensorimotor Intelligence

Back 38

Piaget's term for the infant's approach to the world, relying on relatively simple physical responses to sensory experience, with very little cognition involved

Front 39

Object Permanence

Back 39

The knowledge that objects exist independently of one's own actions or awareness

Front 40

Goal-directed behavior

Back 40

An ability that emerges during the sensorimotor period by which infants develop the ability to keep a simple goal in mind as they pursue it

Front 41

Mental Representation

Back 41

The ability to form internal images of objects and events

Front 42

Preoperational Stage

Back 42

The second stage in Piaget's theory, marked by well-developed mental representations and the use of language

Front 43

Egocentrism

Back 43

In Piaget's theory, the self-centered inability to realize that there are other viewpoints beside one's own

Front 44

Animistic Thinking

Back 44

A preoperational mode of thought in which inanimate objects are imagined to have life and mental processes

Front 45

Centration

Back 45

A peroperational thought pattern involving the inability to take into account more than one factor at a time

Front 46

Irreversibility

Back 46

The inability in the preoperational child to think through a series of events or mental operations and then mentally reverse the steps

Front 47

Concrete Operational Stage

Back 47

Piaget's third stage--when a child understands conservation but still is incapable of abstract thought

Front 48

Conservation

Back 48

The understanding that the physical properties of an object or substance do not change when appearances change but nothing is added or taken away

Front 49

Mental Operation

Back 49

Solving a problem by manipulating images in one's mind

Front 50

Theory of Mind

Back 50

An awareness that other people's behavior may be influenced by beliefs, desires, and emotions that differ from one's own

Front 51

Wave Metaphor

Back 51

A way of conceptualizing cognitive development, as occurring more gradually--in "waves"--rather than abruptly, as the stage theory suggests

Front 52

Temperament

Back 52

An individual's characteristic manner of behavior or reaction--assumed to have a strong genetic basis

Front 53

Socialization

Back 53

The lifelong process of shaping an individual's behavior patterns, values, standards, skills, attitudes, and motives to conform to those regarded as desirable in a particular society

Front 54

Authoritarian Parent

Back 54

Characterized by demands for conformity and obediance, with little tolerance for discussion of rules, which the parent enforces with punishment or threats of punishment

Front 55

Authoritative Parent

Back 55

Parent enforces with consequences, rather than punitive actions. High standards with warmth and respect for child's views.

Front 56

Permissive Parent

Back 56

Setting few rules and allowing children to make their own decision. May be caring and communicative, permissive parents give most decision-making responsibility to their children

Front 57

Uninvolved Parent

Back 57

Indifference or rejection, sometimes to the point of neglect or abuse

Front 58

Psychosocial Stage

Back 58

Erikson's theory--8 major challenges that appear successively across the lifespan, which require an individual to rethink his or her goals, as well as relationships with others

Front 59

Autonomy

Back 59

Erikson's theory--major developmental task of the second stage in childhood. Involves developing a sense of independence, as opposed to being plagued by self-doubt

Front 60

Initiative

Back 60

Erikson's theory--major developmental task of third stage. Ability to initiate activites oneself, rather than merely responding to others or feeling guilt at not measuring up to other's expectations

Front 61

Industry

Back 61

Erikson--term for a sense of confidence that characterizes the main goal of the 4th stage. Children who do not develop industry (confidence) will slip into a self-perception of inferiority

Front 62

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Back 62

Psychological disorder involving poor impulse control, difficulty concentrating on a task for a sustained period of time, hish distractibility, and excessive activity

Front 63

Adolescence

Back 63

In industrial societies, a developmental period beginning at puberty and ending at adulthood

Front 64

Rite of Passage

Back 64

Social ritual that marks the transition between developmental stages, especially between childhood and adulthood

Front 65

Puberty

Back 65

The onset of sexual maturity

Front 66

Menarche

Back 66

The onset of menstruation

Front 67

Sexual Orientation

Back 67

The direction of one's sexual interests

Front 68

Formal Operational Stage

Back 68

The last of Piaget's stages, during which abstract thoughts appears

Front 69

Stage of Moral Reasoning

Back 69

Distinctive way of thinking about ethical and moral problems. According to Kohlberg, moral reasoning progresses through a series of developmental stages that are similar to Piaget's stages of cognitive development

Front 70

Identity

Back 70

Erikson's theory--Identity is a sense of who one is--a coherent self. Developing a sense of identity is the main goal of adolescence

Front 71

Revolution in Aging

Back 71

A change in the way people think about aging in modern industrialized nations. This new perspective grows out of increased longevity, better health care, and more lifestyle choices availablt to older adults. Stimulated psychological study of adult development.

Front 72

Intimacy

Back 72

Erikson's theory--the main developmental task of early adulthood, involving the capacity to make a full commitment-sexual, emotional, and moral-to another person

Front 73

Emerging Adulthood

Back 73

A transition period between adolescence and adulthood

Front 74

Peer Marriage

Back 74

Marriage in which the couple see each other as partners and friends, as contrasted with the older stereotypic roles of "husband" and "wife."

Front 75

Generativity

Back 75

The process of making a commitment beyond oneself to family, work, society, or future generations. Erikson's theory--the developmental challenge of midlife

Front 76

Transition

Back 76

An individual's redefinition or transformation of a life role

Front 77

Ego-integrity

Back 77

Erikson's theory--the developmental task of late adulthood, involving the ability to look back on life without regrets and to enjoy a sense of wholeness

Front 78

Alzheimer's Disease

Back 78

A degenerative brain disease usually noticed first by its debilitating effects on memory

Front 79

Selective Social Interaction

Back 79

Choosing to restrict the number of one's social contacts to those who are the most gratifying